Barbecue Man Aubrey Bean Lands New Restaurant in Midtown: The Judge's Vinegarroon

The topic's already popped up on Bites, but in

in the Nashville Post section of today's edition of The City Paper, I report on The Judge's Vinegarroon, the new barbecue and steak bastion from Aubrey Bean. Here's an excerpt:

Bean’s been serving up Texas-style barbecue brisket since he opened his first Judge Bean’s BBQ in 2002, and he's operated at various locations over the years, but he hasn’t had a restaurant in Nashville proper for a while. While the Judge Bean’s BBQ location down south in Brentwood is still going strong, Bean said he sold his stake to his partners a while back, then spent a year resting and recuperating from a heart attack and planning his next project.

That venture is The Judge’s Vinegarroon, which opened a couple weeks ago at 1805 Church St., a spot that’s housed quite a few concepts (most recently the late Sportstown BarBQ). For those not familiar with Western lore, a vinegarroon is a whiptail scorpion, and it was also the name of notorious lawman Judge Roy Bean’s original settlement in West Texas.

Aubrey Bean, who says he’s kin to the famous judge, is gradually rolling out the full menu, but he’s already serving up his signature beef brisket and other goodies, like smoked half-chickens and the popular shrimp Diablo skewers (a jalapeno stuffed with shrimp and cheese, wrapped in bacon, skewered and smoked).

A new feature will be Bean’s steaks. He’s served steaks before, but he says these are better — he’s now sourcing the beef locally (from Triune, to be exact). Because he’s purchasing the cattle on the hoof, Bean says he’s getting higher quality and lower prices, and he promises to pass the savings on to the customer: with a 10-ounce rib eye or a petite filet with two sides going for $16 or less.

Longtime Judge Bean’s diners will find many things familiar, including the spicy cowboy beans enhanced with bits of brisket and the comfortable no-frills dining room with red-and-white tablecloths. Beer and liquor are served, and there’s a front patio that will be handy when the weather is less fiery.

A website for The Judge’s Vinegarroon (678-7116) is in progress, but you can visit the restaurant’s page on Facebook. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.